Panos A. Panay is the President of the Recording Academy®, where he spearheads strategic initiatives to enhance business growth and expand service offerings for Academy members and the music industry. With a keen focus on forging new partnerships, global outreach, and harnessing cutting-edge technologies, Panay fosters a culture of innovation that aligns with the Academy’s mission.

Before joining the Recording Academy, Panay was the Senior Vice President for Global Strategy and Innovation at Berklee College of Music, where he crafted and implemented the institution’s strategic vision. He founded the Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship and managed Berklee’s international campuses in New York, Valencia, and Abu Dhabi, as well as spearheading the Music + Health and India Exchange Institutes. His leadership was pivotal in Berklee’s expansion into China and the K-12 education sector.

An entrepreneur at heart, Panay founded Sonicbids, a leading platform that connected emerging artists with music promoters, resulting in over a million gigs booked across 80 countries. He led Sonicbids for 13 years until its successful acquisition in 2013. Earlier in his career, he served as a talent agent at The Kurland Agency, representing GRAMMY®-winning artists like Pat Metheny and Branford Marsalis.

Panos is a recognized thought leader, featured in Fast Company’s Fast 50, Inc. Magazine’s Inc 500, and Boston Globe’s Game Changers. His insights on entrepreneurship have been shared in prominent outlets like Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. He is also a sought-after speaker at universities and industry events globally.

His latest book, Two Beats Ahead: What Musical Minds Teach Us About Innovation, co-authored with R. Michael Hendrix, was released in April 2021 and celebrated as a Financial Times Business Book of the Month. Panay holds a degree in Music Business & Management from Berklee and pursued an EMBA at Brown University/IE Business School.